He was a very large species of feline

Some say he weighed  at least one hundred pounds

The story is that he was fifty percent cougar, fifty percent Lynx

His home was the drainage washes in the city of Phoenix

He was a cat of super intelligence some say

His prey was the wild coyotes of the desert

He was also rumored to speak telepathic

I first came across this large cat by walking through a wash

Why I even ventured into the little jungle was by chance

Just a simple short cut to my home

He was hiding or sleeping in the tall weeds

I came across him as I tripped and fell from a slippery rock

What I did not expect was the psychic energy he possessed

His brain waves became intertwined with mine

Are you hurt he thought and I heard

I thought back and replied no I am not

He thought this is a very dangerous place

I have been placed here by the mighty one

His thoughts rang into my brain cells

It was like the Kipling novel the "Jungle Book"

Except he did not tell me to leave

He sprawled out next to me

And thought out loud, I appreciate your company

But there are rattle snakes and coyotes close by

You must leave now for your own protection

I thanked the huge feline and made it out of the wash

When I reached my home I thought to myself

Am I dreaming or is this real

One thing was real however, my knee was bruised from my fall

And the legend of the big cat was true

Tony Mike Nerone

4-13-10